Blossom Buddies

In the cherry blossom's shade
there's no such thing
as a stranger.

- Kobayashi Issa -

Japan Next

I was invited to the Japan Next fashion show, sponsored in part by the Government of Japan to promote its designers abroad. The show featured the 2012 A/W collections of mastermind Japan, Somarta, and Adeam.

The fashion show was only one part of the Japanese Government's larger campaign to draw tourists and investors back after last year's earthquake and tsunami disaster. The Japan Next campaign has consisted of an entire series of events taking place in key global cities over the past few months, as a way of expressing the country's gratitude to the world for its support during their recovery efforts. Performances, exhibitions, and celebrations have showcased different aspects of Japanese arts, culture, technology, and cuisine, with the fashion show in Shanghai as one of the final events.

Sound Advice III

One side of my Philips ear buds stopped working, so it was time for a new pair (which was fine, because I didn't like them anyway)*.  I decided on these mid-priced (US$60) Incase Capsule ear buds.

The sound is clean and well balanced, but the bass seems a little tight. Hopefully it will loosen up after a bit more use. On first listen though, I like them a lot.

It comes with 3 sizes of ear plugs, allowing for a comfortable fit with good sound isolation. However, I found the plugs pull off relatively easily (like when taking them out of my pocket), making them easy to lose if you're not careful.

***

Follow up:

After letting them wear in for a couple of months, the bass and overall dynamics do get better, producing a more natural sound. For the above average audio quality at this reasonable price point, these are a solid choice.

*You can read my review of the Philips here.